Friday, May 1, 2026


Your Daily News Update About CALABARZON and Beyond.
ISSN 2799-1911

Home Blog Page 52

Danish PM warns U.S. takeover of Greenland would spell end of NATO

Venus L Peñaflor
-
0
Danish PM warns U.S. takeover of Greenland would spell end of NATO

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Monday warned that a United States takeover of Greenland would effectively mark the end of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), responding sharply to renewed calls by U.S. President Donald Trump for Washington to assert control over the strategic Arctic island.

Frederiksen’s remarks followed a weekend U.S. military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, an action that stunned the international community and heightened anxiety in Denmark and Greenland. Greenland is a semiautonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and, by extension, part of the NATO alliance.

“If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops,” Frederiksen told Danish broadcaster TV2. “That is, including our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War.”

Frederiksen and Greenland’s prime minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, both condemned Trump’s comments and warned of far-reaching consequences, drawing expressions of solidarity from several European leaders.

Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of bringing mineral-rich Greenland under U.S. jurisdiction during his presidential transition and the early months of his second term, and has not ruled out the use of military force. His comments on Sunday, including telling reporters, “let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days,” further fueled concerns in Copenhagen and Nuuk that Washington could be considering a near-term intervention.

Frederiksen said Trump “should be taken seriously” when he speaks about Greenland. “We will not accept a situation where we and Greenland are threatened in this way,” she added.

Speaking at a news conference Monday, Nielsen urged Greenlanders to remain calm and united, stressing that the territory’s situation cannot be compared to Venezuela’s.

“We are not in a situation where we think that there might be a takeover of the country overnight and that is why we are insisting that we want good cooperation,” Nielsen said, adding: “The situation is not such that the United States can simply conquer Greenland.”

TV2 political journalist Ask Rostrup noted in a live blog that Frederiksen would previously have dismissed outright the idea of a U.S. takeover of Greenland. However, Rostrup wrote that escalating rhetoric has now forced Danish leaders to acknowledge the possibility.

Trump also mocked Denmark’s efforts to bolster Greenland’s security, saying the country had added “one more dog sled” to the Arctic territory’s defenses. Speaking to reporters as he returned to Washington from Florida, Trump said, “It’s so strategic right now. Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place.”

“We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it,” he added.

However, Ulrik Pram Gad, a global security expert at the Danish Institute for International Studies, countered those claims in a report last year, writing that while Russian and Chinese vessels do operate in the Arctic, “these vessels are too far away to see from Greenland with or without binoculars.”

Tensions were further inflamed over the weekend by a social media post from Katie Miller, a former Trump administration official turned podcaster, who shared an illustrated map of Greenland colored like the U.S. flag with the caption: “SOON.”

Denmark’s ambassador to Washington, Jesper Møller Sørensen, responded by emphasizing Denmark’s sovereignty. “And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark,” he wrote.

The United States already maintains a military presence in Greenland through the Pituffik Space Base in the island’s northwest, established under a 1951 defense agreement between Denmark and the U.S. The base supports missile warning, missile defense, and space surveillance operations for both the U.S. and NATO.

On Denmark’s mainland, defense ties with Washington remain strong. Denmark purchases U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets, and last year its parliament approved legislation allowing U.S. military bases on Danish soil. Critics argue the move weakened Danish sovereignty, expanding a 2023 agreement under which U.S. forces were granted broad access to Danish air bases.

Despite longstanding cooperation, Frederiksen’s warning underscored growing unease in Europe over Washington’s rhetoric and its implications for NATO unity and the postwar security order.

Mayon itinaas sa Alert Level 3 dahil sa tumitinding aktibidad

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
-
0
Mayon itinaas sa Alert Level 3 dahil sa tumitinding aktibidad

MAYNILA — Itinaas ng Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) sa Alert Level 3 ang Bulkang Mayon bunsod ng patuloy at tumitinding aktibidad nito, na nagpapahiwatig ng magmatic eruption at mas mataas na posibilidad ng lava flows at mapanganib na pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) na maaaring makaapekto sa itaas at gitnang dalisdis ng bulkan.

Ayon sa Phivolcs, posible ang isang pagsabog sa loob ng mga susunod na araw o linggo habang nananatiling aktibo ang sistema ng bulkan.

Sa pagsisimula ng Enero, nakapagtala ang Mayon ng 346 rockfall events at apat na volcanic earthquakes, mas mataas kumpara sa 599 rockfall events na naitala sa buong buwan ng Nobyembre hanggang Disyembre 2025, na tumagal ng isa hanggang limang minuto bawat insidente.

“The volume of discrete rockfall, with observed incandescence at nighttime, increased yesterday, signaling an increase in the rate of dome growth and the onset of extrusion of new lava at the crater,” pahayag ng Phivolcs.

Sa nakalipas na 24 oras, naitala ang 85 rockfall events, mahinang crater glow, pagluwa ng 702 tonelada ng asupre, at pamamaga ng bulkan.

Dahil dito, mariing pinayuhan ang agarang paglikas ng mga residente sa loob ng 6-km Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) upang maiwasan ang panganib mula sa lava flows, rockfalls, PDCs, at iba pang volcanic hazards. Pinag-iingat din ang publiko laban sa posibleng lahar at pagbaha ng putik sa mga daluyan ng tubig mula sa bulkan, lalo na tuwing may malakas na pag-ulan.

Binalaan din ang mga piloto na iwasang lumipad malapit sa bunganga ng bulkan dahil sa panganib na dulot ng abo at iba pang volcanic materials.

Kaugnay nito, katuwang ang Philippine Army, Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), at ang kanilang mga mobility assets, agad na ipinatupad ng pamahalaang panlalawigan ng Albay at mga lokal na pamahalaan sa paligid ng Mayon ang evacuation ng 729 pamilya o mahigit 2,200 katao mula sa loob ng 6-km PDZ sa mga bayan ng Camalig, Guinobatan, at Sto. Domingo.

Noong nakaraang linggo, ilang pamilya na ang kusang lumikas mula sa mga danger area sa bayan ng Guinobatan. Sa Camalig, agad ding inilikas ang 166 pamilya mula sa Barangay Anoling, Sua, at Quirangay.

Ayon kay Roderick Mendoza, hepe ng Albay Provincial Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO), tinatayang 79,315 pamilya o mahigit 300,000 katao ang nakatira sa mga danger area ng Mayon. Sa bilang na ito, 729 pamilya ang nasa loob ng 6-km PDZ, 20,480 pamilya ang nasa 7-km extended danger area, at 55,946 pamilya ang nasa 8-km extended danger area, na nakahandang ilikas sakaling itaas pa ng Phivolcs ang alert level sa mga susunod na araw.

Samantala, tiniyak ni DSWD regional director Norman Laurio na naka-preposition at handang ipamahagi ang humigit-kumulang 111,000 food at non-food items na nakaimbak sa iba’t ibang warehouses sa lalawigan, bukod pa sa 100,000 standby food packs para sa mga apektadong residente.

Tinatanggal ng LTO ang ₱100 fee sa motorcycle top boxes

Venus L Peñaflor
-
0
Tinatanggal ng LTO ang ₱100 fee sa motorcycle top boxes

MAYNILA — Inalis ng Land Transportation Office (LTO) ang ₱100 registration fee para sa mga custom-made top box at saddle bag na ikinakabit sa mga motorsiklo, bilang hakbang na magbigay-ginhawa sa mga rider.

Ayon sa memorandum na pirmado ni LTO Chief Markus Lacanilao noong Disyembre 15, 2025, epektibo mula Enero 2026, mawawala na ang nasabing bayad kada top box o saddle bag.

Ayon kay Lacanilao, isinagawa ang pagbabago alinsunod sa direktiba ng Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. at Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez upang mapagaan ang gastusin ng mga rider na umaasa sa kanilang motorsiklo sa pang-araw-araw na kabuhayan.

“Ito ay malaking tulong sa mga rider na umaasa sa kanilang motorsiklo sa kanilang paghahanapbuhay para maalis na ang dagdag na gastusin,” pahayag ni Lacanilao sa isang post sa Facebook.

Dagdag pa niya, “Ang patakarang ito ay nakaayon sa 7-Point Policy Agenda ng LTO na nakatutok sa pag-alis ng mga hindi kinakailangang bayarin at pagpapagaan ng pasanin sa pananalapi ng mga mamamayang umaasa sa motorsiklo, na nagbibigay ng ginhawa sa badyet habang pinapanatili pa rin ang mga pamantayan para sa kaligtasan sa kalsada.”

Ayon sa opisyal, mananatiling kinakailangan ang pagrerehistro upang matiyak ang kaligtasan at pagsunod sa pamantayan ng LTO. Sa halip na resibo, makatatanggap ang mga rider ng certification bilang patunay ng rehistrasyon. Lahat ng naunang alituntunin na salungat sa bagong direktiba ay aamyendahan o tatanggalin.

Bluefin tuna fetches record $3.2 million at Tokyo’s year-opening fish auction

EDGARDO HERNAL
-
0
Bluefin tuna fetches record $3.2 million at Tokyo’s year-opening fish auction

TOKYO — A massive Pacific bluefin tuna weighing 243 kilograms (535 pounds) sold for a record 510 million yen, or about $3.2 million, at the first auction of 2026 held Monday at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market.

The winning bid came from Kiyomura Corp., operator of the popular Sushi Zanmai restaurant chain, led by owner Kiyoshi Kimura. The purchase shattered the previous auction record of 334 million yen ($2.1 million), also set by Kimura in 2019.

Speaking to reporters after the predawn auction, Kimura said he had hoped to secure the tuna at a lower price but was quickly outpaced as bidding intensified. “The price shot up before you knew it,” he said.

The highly anticipated auction began with the ringing of a bell, signaling bidders to inspect rows of torpedo-shaped tuna laid across the market floor. The fish, with tails partially cut, were examined closely for meat quality, including color, texture, and fat content.

The record-setting tuna was caught off the coast of Oma in northern Japan, a region renowned for producing some of the country’s finest bluefin tuna. The fish fetched roughly 2.1 million yen ($13,360) per kilogram, or about $6,060 per pound.

Kimura said the purchase was partly symbolic. “It’s in part for good luck,” he said, adding that the tuna’s appearance made it irresistible. “I haven’t sampled it yet, but it’s got to be delicious.”

While hundreds of tuna are traded daily at Toyosu’s early-morning auctions, prices at the traditional New Year sale are typically far higher, particularly for premium catches from Oma.

Pacific bluefin tuna, a staple of sushi and sashimi, was previously classified as a threatened species due to overfishing and climate pressures. Stocks, however, have shown signs of recovery in recent years following international conservation and management efforts.

Finland’s fight against fake news begins in preschool classrooms

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
-
0
Finland’s fight against fake news begins in preschool classrooms

HELSINKI — Finland’s long-running battle against fake news and disinformation begins as early as preschool, with media literacy embedded in the national curriculum for children as young as three years old.

For decades, the Nordic country has treated media literacy as the ability to analyze information, assess sources, and recognize false or misleading content as a core civic skill. The approach is designed to strengthen public resilience against propaganda and misinformation, particularly narratives crossing Finland’s 1,340-kilometer border with Russia.

As disinformation campaigns across Europe have intensified following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago, Finnish educators are now expanding the curriculum to include artificial intelligence literacy. Finland’s entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 2023 further heightened concerns over hybrid threats, though Moscow has repeatedly denied interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.

“We think that having good media literacy skills is a very big civic skill,” said Kiia Hakkala, a pedagogical specialist for the City of Helsinki. “It’s very important to the nation’s safety and to the safety of our democracy.”

AI literacy as a growing priority

At Tapanila Primary School, in a residential area north of Helsinki, teacher Ville Vanhanen recently guided fourth-grade students through a lesson on identifying fake news. Facing a classroom screen labeled “Fact or Fiction?”, students were asked to evaluate the credibility of online claims.

“It is a little bit hard,” admitted Ilo Lindgren, 10.

Vanhanen said students are introduced to the basics of detecting misinformation from an early age, starting with simple exercises such as analyzing headlines and short texts. As they progress, lessons become more complex, focusing on source verification, intent, and reliability.

Now, the curriculum is evolving to address artificial intelligence.

“We’ve been studying how to recognize if a picture or a video is made by AI,” said Vanhanen, who also serves as the school’s vice principal. “AI literacy is quickly becoming a vital skill.”

Role of the media and public engagement

Finnish news organizations also play a role in strengthening media literacy. Each year, the country marks “Newspaper Week,” during which newspapers and other news materials are distributed to young people to encourage informed media consumption.

In 2024, Helsinki-based daily Helsingin Sanomat helped develop the “ABC Book of Media Literacy,” which was distributed to every 15-year-old student nationwide as they entered upper secondary school.

“It’s really important for us to be seen as a place where you can get information that’s been verified, that you can trust, and that’s done by people you know in a transparent way,” said Jussi Pullinen, the paper’s managing editor.

Defending democracy through education

Media literacy has been part of Finland’s education system since the 1990s, with additional training programs available for adults, who are often considered more vulnerable to online misinformation.

These efforts have helped Finland consistently rank at the top of the European Media Literacy Index, compiled by the Open Society Institute in Sofia, Bulgaria, between 2017 and 2023.

Finnish Education Minister Anders Adlercreutz said the scale of today’s disinformation challenges was not fully anticipated decades ago.

“I don’t think we envisioned that the world would look like this,” he said. “That we would be bombarded with disinformation, that our institutions are challenged, our democracy really challenged through disinformation.”

Experts warn that the rapid development of AI tools could further complicate efforts to distinguish fact from fiction.

“It already is much harder in the information space to spot what’s real and what’s not real,” said Martha Turnbull, director of hybrid influence at the Helsinki-based European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats. While current AI-generated content can still be identified with some effort, she cautioned that future advances could make detection far more difficult.

“As that technology develops, and particularly as we move toward things like agentic AI,” Turnbull said, “that’s when it could become much more difficult for us to spot.”

For Finland, educators say the answer lies in starting early and treating media literacy not just as a classroom subject, but as a cornerstone of democratic resilience.

Ex-general arestado sa kasong inciting to sedition

Arman B. Cambe
-
0
Ex-general arestado sa kasong inciting to sedition

MAYNILA — Inaresto ng mga awtoridad si retired Air Force major general Romeo Poquiz sa bisa ng warrant of arrest sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) sa Pasay City nitong Lunes, Enero 5.

Kagagaling lamang ni Poquiz mula sa bakasyon sa Bangkok, Thailand nang arestuhin siya ng mga tauhan ng Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group–National Capital Region (PNP-CIDG-NCR), sa pangunguna ni Chief P/Colonel John Guiagui, bandang alas-8 ng umaga.

Ang pag-aresto ay kaugnay ng kasong inciting to sedition, na iniuugnay sa umano’y partisipasyon ni Poquiz sa mga kilos-protesta na ginanap sa People Power Monument sa Quezon City noong Nobyembre 16 at 17, 2025. Binanggit din sa kaso ang ilang post niya sa social media na nananawagan ng pagtalikod o pagbawi ng suporta sa administrasyon ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Ang warrant of arrest ay inisyu noong Disyembre 5, 2025, na may inirekomendang piyansa na P48,000.

Si Poquiz ay kilala bilang convenor ng United People’s Initiative (UPI), isang grupo ng mga retiradong opisyal ng militar.

Matapos ang pag-aresto, dinala si Poquiz sa Camp Crame para sa kaukulang processing bago iprisinta sa Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 77.

Samantala, iginiit ni Poquiz na ang mga kasong isinampa laban sa kanya ay panggigipit at pananakot.

“Ang mga nagnakaw ng bilyon at trilyon ay libre at hindi napanagot, pero ang mga nagprotesta at nagpapahayag ng galit sa pandarambong ng pera ng bayan, na tulad ko, ay kinakasakuhan,” pahayag ni Poquiz.

Agad namang nagpiyansa si Poquiz para sa kanyang pansamantalang paglaya.

Pinirmahan ni Marcos ang P6.793-trilyong 2026 national budget

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
-
0
Pinirmahan ni Marcos ang P6.793-trilyong 2026 national budget

MAYNILA — Matapos ang isang linggong masusing pagsusuri sa lahat ng alokasyon at probisyon, pinirmahan ni Pangulo Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. nitong Lunes ang iminungkahing pambansang badyet para sa fiscal year 2026.

Ang seremonya ng pagpirma sa P6.793-trilyong badyet ay ginanap sa Ceremonial Hall ng Malacañang Palace at dinaluhan ng mga pangunahing opisyal ng pamahalaan, senador, at kongresista.

“With the signing of Republic Act No. 12314 or the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for fiscal year 2026, we are committing to implement a budget that serves the people. Totaling P6.793 trillion, the national budget is aligned with our medium- and long-term development plans and vision, reflecting our investment in the Filipino,” ani Marcos.

“The passage of the national budget is only the beginning. Because today, we commence with the most difficult tasks—to ensure the proper execution and instituting true accountability.”

Ayon sa Pangulo, patuloy na susuportahan ng 2026 budget ang reporma sa edukasyon, proteksyon sa kalusugan, seguridad sa pagkain, social security, at paglikha ng trabaho.

Edukasyon at Kalusugan: Pinakamalaking Alokasyon sa Kasaysayan

Bilang itinakda ng Konstitusyon, nakatanggap ang edukasyon ng pinakamalaking pondo, na umaabot sa higit P1.34 trilyon. Ilan sa pondong ito ay ilalaan sa paglikha ng teaching at non-teaching plantilla positions, promosyon at reclassification ng mga guro, at konstruksyon ng mga silid-aralan sa buong bansa.

Samantala, ang kalusugan ay nakatanggap ng pinakamalaking alokasyon sa kasaysayan ng bansa, na umaabot sa P448.125 bilyon, kabilang ang P1 bilyong pondo para sa zero balance billing program sa mga lokal na ospital, pati na rin sa surveillance ng sakit, rapid response mechanisms, at sustainable health financing.

Nakakuha rin ang PhilHealth ng halos P130 bilyon, kabilang ang P60 bilyong ipinalabas ayon sa kautusan ng Korte Suprema.

“These funds shall support preventive healthcare and the improvement of PhilHealth benefit packages, lowering the out-of-pocket expenses of Filipino families,” ani Marcos.

Agrikultura at Social Services

Ang sektor ng agrikultura ay nakatanggap ng higit P297 bilyon para sa modernisasyon ng supply systems at suporta sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda, kabilang ang pagtatayo ng farm-to-market roads.

Ang sektor ng social services naman ay binigyan ng higit P270 bilyon, upang mapabuti ang kalidad ng buhay ng mga Pilipino at mapalakas ang human capital development.

Sa pamamagitan ng mga pangunahing programa, layunin ng Pangulo na maabot ang single-digit poverty rate pagsapit ng 2028.

Military at Uniformed Personnel

Suportado rin ng 2026 GAA ang implementasyon ng updated base pay at increased subsistence allowance para sa mga sundalo at uniformed personnel.

Ayon kay Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, tiniyak ng Ehekutibo na ang 2026 GAA ay makatutugon hindi lamang sa legal at teknikal na pamantayan kundi sa aktwal na pangangailangan ng mamamayan.

Veto sa Unprogrammed Appropriations

Ipinahayag ni Marcos na binawi niya ang halos P92.5 bilyon sa unprogrammed appropriations upang matiyak na malinaw at makatarungan ang paggamit ng pondo publiko.

“Let me be clear—the unprogrammed appropriations are not blank checks. We will not allow the unprogrammed appropriations to be misused or treated as a backdoor for discretionary spending,” ani Marcos.

Ayon kay Deputy House Minority Leader Edgar Erice, pinaplano niyang kwestyunin ang 2026 national budget sa Korte Suprema dahil sa unprogrammed funds.

“Pinag-aaralan pa lang namin pero just the same, ang aking position, all unprogrammed funds in any form are unconstitutional. So I will have to challenge it before the Supreme Court,” ani Erice.

Reenacted Budget

Pinagtibay ni Marcos na sa pagpirma ng 2026 GAA, ang 2025 GAA ay deemed reenacted at nananatiling epektibo hanggang Enero 4, 2026.

“In this regard, the DBM shall consider the expenditures lawfully incurred under the reenacted budget in formulating its fund release for the guidelines of fiscal year 2026,” ani Marcos.

Pokus sa Pagpapatupad at Responsableng Paggastos

Ayon sa Pangulo:

“Sa national budget ng 2026, malinaw ang direksyon ng inyong pamahalaan, magiging mas masinop, mas maingat, mas responsable kami sa paggastos ng pondo ng bayan.”

“Ang bawat programa at proyekto ay dadaan sa masusing pagsusuri upang masiguro na ito ay may malinaw na benepisyo sa mamamayan, lalo na sa sektor na higit na nangangailangan. Magtatrabaho ang administrasyong ito upang mapabuti ang sistema, mapalakas ang pananagutan, at matuldukan ang katiwalian.”

Sinabi rin ni Recto na ang pagpirma ng budget ay simula pa lamang, at ang tunay na pagsusuri ay nasa implementasyon.

“The signing of this budget is only the beginning. Its true test is in its implementation. At dito na papasok ang Ehekutibo. Kaya ang pangako namin ay simple, sisiguraduhin naming totoong makikinabang ang taumbayan,” ani Recto.

Pinakamalaking Badyet para sa Edukasyon

Ayon kay Education Secretary Sonny Angara, ang 2026 budget ay ang pinakamalaki para sa DepEd sa mga nagdaang taon. Saklaw nito ang konstruksyon ng silid-aralan, pasilidad sa paaralan, learner subsidies, textbooks, feeding programs, digital equipment, at pag-hire at training ng mga kawani.

  • P85.3 bilyon para sa 165,000-classroom backlog, kabilang ang P65 bilyon para sa 24,964 bagong silid-aralan at P7.7 bilyon para sa repair at rehabilitation ng umiiral na gusali.
  • P19.5 bilyon para sa produksyon ng textbooks at learning materials.
  • P10.6 bilyon para sa DepEd Computerization Program, para sa laptops, digital tools, at internet connectivity.
  • P4.6 bilyon para sa teacher training at P42.4 bilyon para sa bagong plantilla positions, kabilang ang 32,916 teaching items, 6,000 Principal I posts, at 10,000 School Counselor Associate positions.

Para sa nutrisyon at feeding programs, nakatanggap ang Expanded School-Based Feeding Program ng P25.6 bilyon, na makikinabang sa humigit-kumulang 4.6 milyong mag-aaral.

“We are looking at a very promising 2026 for the education sector,” ani Angara.

Sa kabila ng selektibong patakaran tulad ng “no cellphone” policy sa seremonya ng pagpirma, tiniyak ng pamahalaan na malinaw ang direksyon ng 2026 GAA sa responsableng paggastos at benepisyo para sa taumbayan.

Maduro pleads not guilty to U.S. drug charges, denounces capture as ‘abduction’

Venus L Peñaflor
-
0
Maduro pleads not guilty to U.S. drug charges, denounces capture as ‘abduction’

NEW YORK — Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday to federal drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges in his first appearance before a United States court, forcefully protesting what he described as his unlawful capture by U.S. forces in Caracas.

“I was captured,” Maduro told the court in Spanish, speaking through an interpreter, before being interrupted by the judge. When formally asked for his plea, he said: “I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the constitutional president of my country.” His wife, Cilia Flores, who appeared alongside him, also entered a plea of not guilty.

Maduro’s appearance before the U.S. District Court in Manhattan marked the opening of one of the most consequential prosecutions of a foreign leader in modern U.S. history. The case stems from charges the Trump administration cited to justify a surprise military operation over the weekend that resulted in the seizure of Maduro and Flores from their residence inside a Venezuelan military base.

Brought to court under heavy security, Maduro, 63, was flown by helicopter from a detention facility in Brooklyn and transported to the courthouse in an armored vehicle. Both he and Flores wore jail-issued clothing and leg restraints and used headsets to follow the proceedings, which were conducted in English and translated into Spanish.

U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, 92, curtailed Maduro’s repeated attempts to argue that he had been kidnapped, telling him there would be “a time and place” for such claims. The judge first confirmed the defendant’s identity, to which Maduro responded, “I am Nicolás Maduro Moros.”

Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, said the defense would challenge the legality of what he called a “military abduction” and argue that Maduro, as head of a sovereign state, is entitled to immunity from U.S. criminal jurisdiction. The United States, however, does not recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president, particularly following his widely disputed 2024 reelection.

A similar immunity defense was unsuccessfully raised by former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega after his capture during the 1990 U.S. invasion of Panama.

Flores identified herself in court as the “first lady of the Republic of Venezuela.” Her lawyer, Mark Donnelly, said she sustained “significant injuries” during her capture, noting visible bandages on her forehead and right temple.

A 25-page indictment unsealed by U.S. prosecutors accuses Maduro, Flores, and other associates of conspiring with drug cartels to facilitate the shipment of thousands of tons of cocaine into the United States. If convicted, they could face life imprisonment. The indictment further alleges that the defendants ordered kidnappings, assaults, and killings to enforce drug debts and silence rivals, including the murder of a local drug boss in Caracas.

Outside the courthouse, police separated protesters opposing the U.S. military action from those supporting it. Inside the courtroom, a man in the gallery shouted that Maduro was an “illegitimate” president as proceedings concluded. As he was led away by deputy U.S. marshals, Maduro responded in Spanish: “I am a kidnapped president. I am a prisoner of war.”

The criminal case is unfolding amid heightened geopolitical tensions following President Donald Trump’s declaration that the United States would temporarily “run” Venezuela. Trump reiterated over the weekend that Washington was “in charge” and would “fix” the country, remarks that drew international criticism. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later adopted a more cautious tone, saying the U.S. would not govern Venezuela day to day, apart from enforcing an existing “oil quarantine.”

Trump has suggested that Maduro’s removal could allow increased Venezuelan oil production, though oil prices rose 1.7% on Monday amid uncertainty over governance and the state of the country’s neglected energy sector.

Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, demanded Maduro’s return and condemned what she described as an illegitimate military aggression. Sworn in on Monday by National Assembly leader Jorge Rodríguez, she expressed “sorrow for the kidnapping of two heroes,” while also signaling openness to “respectful relations” with Washington.

Maduro’s son, Venezuelan lawmaker Nicolás Maduro Guerra, warned that his father’s capture could set a dangerous global precedent. “If we normalize the kidnapping of a head of state, no country is safe,” he said.

The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Monday, with senior U.N. officials warning that the unilateral U.S. action may have violated international law and underscoring Venezuela’s deep humanitarian crisis.

Legal experts say the case will test the limits of U.S. jurisdiction over foreign leaders, as courts weigh domestic criminal statutes against principles of sovereignty and head-of-state immunity under international law.

Shear line, Amihan at easterlies magpapa-ulan sa buong kapuluan

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
-
0
Shear line, Amihan at easterlies magpapa-ulan sa buong kapuluan

MAYNILA — Ayon sa Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), magpapatuloy ang pag-ulan at maulap na kalangitan sa ilang bahagi ng Luzon, Visayas, at Mindanao ngayong Lunes, Enero 5, 2026, dulot ng shear line na patuloy na nakaapekto sa lagay ng panahon sa bansa.

Sa pinakahuling ulat ng PAGASA, ang shear line sa pagitan ng magkaibang hangin ay nakakaapekto sa silangang bahagi ng Southern Luzon at sa Visayas, na nagdudulot ng makulimlim na kalangitan na may pag-ulan at isolated thunderstorms. Ayon sa PAGASA, may posibilidad ng flash flood at landslide sa ilang lalawigan, partikular sa Bicol Region, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, at Romblon.

Dahil sa shear line, inaasahan din ang tuloy-tuloy pag-ulan sa ilang bahagi ng Visayas. Ang forecast ng PAGASA ay nagpapakita ng mahina hanggang katamtamang pag-ulan at thunderstorms na may kasamang malakas na hangin sa mga lalawigan tulad ng Palawan, Capiz, Aklan, at Negros Occidental.

Kasabay nito, ang Northeast Monsoon (Amihan) ay nakakaapekto sa ibang bahagi ng Luzon, na nagdadala ng maulap na kalangitan na may kaunting pag-ulan sa mga rehiyon tulad ng Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Aurora, Laguna, at Batangas. Sa Metro Manila at karatig na lugar, inaasahan ang partly cloudy hanggang cloudy na kalangitan na may isolated light rains.

Sa Mindanao, ang easterlies ay nagdudulot ng maulap na kalangitan na may scattered rains at thunderstorms sa mga rehiyon tulad ng Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, at Tawi-Tawi. Pinapayuhan ang mga residente na maging maingat sa posibleng flash flood at landslide, lalo na sa mga low-lying at flood-prone na lugar.

Ayon sa PAGASA, walang aktibong tropical cyclone o low-pressure area sa loob o labas ng Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) sa ngayon, kaya’t ang kasalukuyang pag-ulan ay pangunahing dulot ng shear line, amihan, at easterlies.

Pinapayuhan ang publiko na manatiling alerto sa mga weather advisory at posibleng panganib. Maaaring makaranas ang mga baybaying-dagat ng moderate hanggang rough seas, lalo na sa silangang baybayin, dahil sa umiiral na hangin.

Pope urges peace and protection of Venezuela’s sovereignty

EDGARDO HERNAL
-
0
Pope urges peace and protection of Venezuela’s sovereignty

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV on Sunday urged the international community and Venezuelans to prioritize peace, justice, and the country’s sovereignty following the U.S. capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas.

Speaking at the midday Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, the pontiff called for the human and civil rights of all Venezuelans to be respected, while emphasizing the importance of protecting the rule of law enshrined in Venezuela’s constitution.

“The good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration and lead us to overcome violence and to undertake paths of justice and peace, safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, ensuring the rule of law enshrined in the Constitution, respecting the human and civil rights of each person and of all, and working to build together a serene future of collaboration, stability, and concord, with special attention to the poorest who suffer because of the difficult economic situation,” Pope Leo XIV said.

The pontiff invited the faithful to pray for the Venezuelan people and entrusted them to the intercession of Our Lady of Coromoto, Patroness of Venezuela, St. José Gregorio Hernández, and St. Carmen Rendiles. He concluded his appeals by encouraging continued faith in God as a source of peace.

“Let us continue to have faith in the God of peace,” he said. “Let us pray and stand in solidarity with the peoples who suffer because of wars.”

The Pope’s remarks followed the early Saturday operation in which U.S. special forces entered Caracas, striking several military areas and capturing Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, at their residence. The couple was transported to New York, where they are facing multiple felony charges.

In response to the events, the Venezuelan Bishops’ Conference issued a message expressing solidarity with the Venezuelan people. The bishops called for serenity, wisdom, and strength, particularly for those injured or affected by the crisis, while urging society to reject violence.

“In view of the events that our country is experiencing today, let us ask God to grant all Venezuelans serenity, wisdom, and strength,” the statement read. “We stand in solidarity with those who were injured and with the families of those who died. Let us persevere in prayer for the unity of our people.”

The Bishops’ Conference emphasized that all decisions should be guided by the common good. “We make an appeal to the people of God to live more intensely hope and fervent prayer for peace in our hearts and in society; we reject any kind of violence,” they said. “May our hands open to encounter and mutual help, and may the decisions that are made be made always for the good of our people.”

Pope Leo XIV’s call underscores the Vatican’s longstanding concern for Venezuela, urging diplomacy, prayer, and human rights protection as tensions continue to rise following the U.S. military operation.

1...515253...815Page 52 of 815




Tutubi Digital News will shape up the way you stay up to date with the goings-on around Calabarzon, and the world. Tutubi is committed to keep you socially active. Tutubi updates on the Go!


Contact us:

info@tutubi.ph

Popular Posts

Popular category

PH News3485World News3401Asia1424Curiosity1008War Reports and Updates622

Developed by Tutubi News Magazine |Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions of Use | Cookie Policy | All rights reserved